What to bring
- Pathology test request form completed by your doctor
- A valid Medicare card and/or Private Health Insurance card , or overseas healthcard card (OSHC) and photo ID – this will ensure your testing is billed to Medicare or your healthcare provider if eligible
- A list of any current medication and doses
You will also need to bring photo ID if you are having a test for any of the following reasons:
- You are an overseas healthcare card holder
- Immigration
- Occupational Health
- Parentage DNA
- Insurance
- Drug Screening
- Court Ordered Testing
What to do before your test
Your pre-testing instructions will depend on the test you’re having, but the most important thing to do is drink plenty of water before your test – unless your GP has given you a reason not to. This will make it easier for our team member to conduct your blood test.
In some cases, you may be required to fast before your test. This means you will not be able to eat or drink for a set period of time. Fasting is necessary for some tests because some foods and drinks can affect your results.
Your doctor will advise if you are required to fast for your blood test.
A quick guide to fasting
- Diabetics should not fast without prior medical advice.
- Fasting means that you abstain from all food and fluids other than water for a period of 8-14 hours prior to your test.
- Alcohol should not be consumed for 72 hours (3 days) prior to the test.
- You should avoid smoking during the fasting period.
- Do not fast for more than 14 hours prior to your testing.
- Continue to take any medication unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
- Children under 12 should avoid fasting for more than 4-6 hours.
Tests that may require fasting include
- Glucose levels
- Lipids levels (cholesterol)
These instructions should be adhered to unless advised otherwise by your doctor.
After your blood test
Once the blood collection is complete:
- Please leave dressing strip in place for 2-4 hours
- Avoid activities which may cause direct impact on the puncture site for 24 hours. If your skin is particularly thin, it may also be advisable to avoid activities which require energetic use of your arm (such as sports, digging or carrying heavy items) for 24 hours.
Your pathology report will be sent directly to your doctor. Please make an appointment with your doctor to discuss results.
Rarely, patients may experience some bleeding, swelling, discomfort or bruising. Should this occur the following steps are recommended:
- Bleeding at needle puncture site:
- Apply firm pressure directly over the needle site and elevate the arm until bleeding stops.
Discomfort or swelling around needle puncture site:
- Elevate the arm and apply an ice pack to the site. This will help reduce bruising.
Excessive bruising:Rest the arm.
- Apply ice pack to the area.
Pathology testing for children - Paediatric Collections
When taking your child for a blood test, it is a good idea to explain why the test is necessary, and exactly what is involved. Often bringing a favourite toy, book or colouring activity can help your child feel more comfortable.
Children over the age of 12 years can have their collection performed at any of our centres. For children aged from 1 to 12 years, we have specialised paediatric collection centres with collectors who have been trained in paediatric care.
To find one of these options – select “Paediatric Collection (0-12 months), (1-5 years), (6-12 years) from the “Any test” drop-down menu in the search criteria.
Please call the collection centre you plan to attend ahead of time and make an appointment.
Sometimes your child or baby may require a urine sample to be collected for testing. Please see Urine Collection (Paediatrics) below for further information.
Drug screening
This test incurs an out of pocket fee that is required to be paid at time of collection unless a third party has been nominated. If you nominate a third party to pay, you must provide Dorevitch Pathology with a written statement (on letter-headed paper) or a pre-printed chain of custody form from the third party clearly stating they will accept the costs.
What to Expect
- Photo ID must be shown to the collector for the collection to proceed.
- You will need to sign all tamper evident labels, seals and forms. Please follow collectors’ instructions on where to sign.
- You will be asked about your current medications and other personal information. This information is recorded on the chain of custody form.
- You will need to be in the presence of the collector until the last sample is sealed in a tamper evident bag. Please be patient and wait until the collector instructs you to leave.
Sample Collection – General Steps
- The collector will ask you to remove coats/jumpers and to empty your pockets.
All personal belongings will be left outside the collection room. - You will be asked to wash your hands prior to producing a sample.
- A coloured solution will be added to the toilet. Water taps and soap will be made tamper evident (i.e. a paper bag taped over the taps).
- A sample collection cup will be provided for you to submit a minimum 40mL of urine.
The collection staff member waits outside the cubicle with the door slightly ajar whilst you urinate. - Once finished, the sample cup is handed to the collector. The collector observes the toilet prior to flushing.
- The urine will undergo two integrity checks – temperature and creatinine. If the temperature or creatinine are outside the normal range, or anything unusual is noted in the urine, another sample will be required.
This test incurs an out of pocket fee that is required to be paid at time of collection unless a third party has been nominated. If you nominate a third party to pay, you must provide Dorevitch Pathology with a written statement (on letter-headed paper) or a pre-printed chain of custody form from the third party clearly stating they will accept the costs.
What to Expect
- Photo ID must be shown to the collector for the collection to proceed.
- The collector is required to directly observe passage of urine from the urethra to the container.
- You will need to sign all tamper evident labels, seals and forms. Please follow collectors’ instructions on where to sign.
- You will be asked about your current medications and other personal information. This information is recorded on the chain of custody form.
- You will need to be in the presence of the collector until the last sample is sealed in a tamper evident bag. Please be patient and wait until the collector instructs you to leave.
Sample Collection – General Steps
- The collector will ask you to remove coats/jumpers and to empty your pockets.
All personal belongings will be left outside the collection room. - You will be asked to wash your hands prior to producing a sample.
- A coloured solution will be added to the toilet. Water taps and soap will be made tamper evident (i.e. a paper bag taped over the taps).
- A sample collection cup will be provided for you to submit a minimum 40mL of urine.
A collection staff member will stand in front of you (female) or closely beside you (male) to observe you urinating. - Once finished, the sample cup is handed to the collector. The collector observes the toilet prior to flushing.
- The urine will undergo two integrity checks – temperature and creatinine. If the temperature or creatinine are outside the normal range, or anything unusual is noted in the urine, another sample will be required.
Urine testing
Equipment
- 1 Sterile urine jar
- 2 Towelettes
Procedure
- Wash hands
- Prepare by opening the sterile container and the towelettes and placing them where they can be reached conveniently.
- Sit well back on the toilet. Part the skinfolds (labia) and while holding apart, wash once from front to back with the first towelette and then the second.
- With the skinfolds (labia) still apart pass the initial amount of urine into the toilet and then without stopping the stream pass the container under and collect enough urine to half fill the container. The rest of the urine is passed into the toilet.
- Place the lid on the container.
- Label both containers with your:
• Surname
• Date of Birth
• Given name
• Time & Date of Collection - Return the sample to the Collection Centre as soon as possible on the day of collection. If there is any delay, refrigerate the specimen.
N.B. The two most important considerations when collecting urine are:
- To keep the labia parted (following cleansing) until urine collected.
- To allow a continuous stream while collecting urine.
Equipment
- 1 Sterile urine jar
- 2 Towelette(s)
Procedure
- Wash hands.
- If uncircumcised, retract the foreskin and cleanse around the opening of the urethra with the towelette(s) provided.
- Avoid touching the inside of the container and the lid.
- Pass a small amount of urine into the toilet and without stopping the stream collect approximately 25mls of urine into the specimen container (i.e. half fill the container). The remaining urine is passed into the toilet. Return foreskin to correct position (if uncircumcised).
- Screw the lid tightly and label container with your:
• Surname
• Date of Birth
• Given Name
• Time and Date of Collection - Return the sample to the collection centre as soon as possible on the day of collection. If there is any delay, refrigerate the specimen.
Procedure
- Start the collection by going to the toilet so you have no urine left. Flush the toilet. This is the start time of the collection even though there is no urine in the bottle. Please note this time on the bottle (time/date of collection).
- Label the bottle with your
• Surname
• Date of birth
• Given name
• Time and date of collection - Collect all urine into the large bottle for the next 24 hours, using the cup provided.
- Keep the bottle cool during the collection.
- At the end of the 24 hours go to the toilet again, but this time put any urine into the bottle.
- Write the finish time and date on the bottle.
NOTE: If you miss a urine specimen during the 24 hours you will need to collect another bottle and start again.
If the test is “Creatinine clearance” you will need to have a blood test done within 6 hours of the urine collection.
If the test is “5HIAA” you will need to change your diet to avoid avocados, tomatoes, bananas, pineapple, nuts, plums, eggplant and kiwi fruit.
If the test is “arsenic” you will need to avoid shellfish for two days before, and during the 24 hour urine collection.
If the bottle you have been given contains some acid or preservative, please do not tip it out. If you spill any on your clothes or skin you should wash it off immediately with water and seek medical assistance if needed.
If you do spill any of the acid/preservative you will be required to collect a second bottle to perform the test accurately.
Collection Kit Instructions
- Wash your hands.
- Remove the baby’s nappy. Wash the genital area thoroughly with soap and water. Dry thoroughly.
- Open the urine collection pack.
- Grasp the tube marked “Chlorhexidine 0.1% Aqueous Irrigation” and twist the lid off. Pour the contents into one of the compartments containing three cotton wool balls.
For Female: Take one of these swabs and wipe the genital area from front to back on the left side and discard. Repeat on the right side and in the centre.
For Male: Wipe around the head of the penis with each swab. - Open the other tube marked “Water for Irrigation” in the same manner and pour over the other cotton wool swabs. Wipe the genital area in the same way.
- Dry the area around the urethral opening.
- Remove the keyhole shaped opening on the urine bag without touching the inside.
- Remove the adhesive protector.
- Apply the bag over the urethral opening.
- After the urine has been passed, carefully remove the bag.With scissors, snip the corner of the bag and pour the urine into the specimen jar.
- Return to the lab as soon as possible. Refrigerate if there is a delay.
No special dietary restrictions apply.
Equipment
- 3 x 120ml Urine Jars
Collection
- Collect mid morning sample on 3 consecutive days.
- The first early morning sample is not suitable.
- Ensure all of the following details are competed on each jar-
• Surname
• Given name
• Date of birth
• Time and date of collection
• Number the samples 1, 2 and 3 - Each specimen should be delivered as soon as possible on the day of collection. If there is a delay in delivery, please refrigerate.